'Long history of offending:' Recidivist burglar strikes again

Author: Belinda Feek,
Publish Date: Thu, 3 Sep 2026, 3:12pm

Recidivist burglar Miles Simon was jailed for 19 months in the Hamilton District Court on Wednesday. Photo / 123RF

A resident was gardening in front of their home when a prolific burglar sneaked into the back of the property and ransacked the house.

Miles Grant Simon moved room to room in the River Rd, Hamilton property on the morning of March 16 , stealing three children’s iPads, a purse with cards, and an Xbox.

Within minutes he was at Z Willougby St, where he spent $198.

Simon, 50, has 25 burglary convictions and appeared in Hamilton District Court for sentencing on Wednesday on another burglary charge, theft, and two charges of using a document for pecuniary advantage.

Judge Stephen Clark told the court burglaries occurring at night used to be deemed more serious, but with people working from home or retired that was not now the case.

“This was a burglary in the morning and there was an occupant home.”

Miles also took an iPhone from the seat of an unoccupied post delivery cart on February 2.

The phone contained a wallet with the victim’s bank cards and driver’s licence.

Within 20 minutes, he began a $682.16 shopping spree at three stores on Te Rapa Rd.

Judge Clark said the victim was upset and emotional about what happened.

“He referred to literally watching his money disappear before his eyes.”

Simon, who sat with his head bowed in the dock, had earlier accepted a sentence indication from Judge Clark of 32 months in prison.

His lawyer, Haley Gane, asked for further credits of 25% for plea, 5% for a remorse letter he’d written and 10% for his alcohol and drug issues.

Despite his history, Gane said Simon was now in “the preparation stage of change”.

“The last chance of him to get off that wheel of reoffending is with the Grace Foundation,” she told the judge.

However, Judge Clark said his pre-sentence report wasn’t as enthusiastic about granting him home detention, enabling him to go to the foundation.

“I somewhat disagree with that just because Mr Simon is very willing to make changes.

“He’s 50 years old. He’s told me he’s over this type of lifestyle.

“If he’s sent to prison he will ... just go back to what he was doing.”

The judge pointed out his abysmal history of burglaries, and Simon was at one point accepted into the drug and alcohol court.

Gane said he left the facility because of an assault.

Police sought reparation for the victims, but Gane said considering he was in prison, “I don’t believe he’s in any position to make reparation at this stage”.

Judge Clark told Simon his pre-sentence report made for “grim” reading.

“It talks about your long history of offending, spanning [adult life].

“You’re at very high risk of reoffending, so much so, you’re not eligible for departmental programmes.”

Miles had previously been declined entry into Salvation Army and Tai Aroha programmes because of his risk level and poor compliance, and only lasted a couple of weeks in the alcohol and drug court.

Simon had a “long standing” poly-substance issue, had experienced homelessness and “significant adversity” over the years.

He was in remission for his meth substance use disorder because he was in prison.

Miles penned a letter of apology, which the judge said was “well-written”.

“The concern is, Mr Simon, you say all the right things.

“I’m not denigrating that at all but you have been coming before the court consistently most of your adult life and I do wonder how many of these remorse letters you have written.

“I suspect it’s quite a few.”

He declined to grant him home detention and instead jailed him for 19 months.

However, the judge directed that he could be released to the Grace Foundation upon release.

Belinda Feek is an Open Justice reporter based in Waikato. She has worked at NZME for 11 years and has been a journalist for 22.